HTC launches Zoe beta to Google Play for a range of devices

. Over the last few months, HTC has been hinting at releasing their Sense based services like Blinkfeed to more users, this has also been followed by the company releasing their software services to Google Play. Today, HTC has announced that their first software service released through Google Play for devices other than HTC will be Zoe.

So, what is Zoe? The wider launch of Zoe to Google Play, is not what most HTC owners will recognise as the Zoe from their phones, but more the Video Highlights part of Zoe. With Zoe you can create, edit, remix and more to the point with this service: share, your videos with your friends, family and followers. Because Zoe is a social service, and you can follow people and see their Video Highilights, or Zoes, that they choose to share on the service.

To use Zoe, you’ll need to login to the app using Facebook or Google+ credentials. Once you’re logged in, you can choose to see if any of your friends are using Zoe, or choose from a list of prominent Zoeites (?). Once you’re past the social part, you can choose to share your first Zoe.

To create a Zoe, you can select from your complete roll of content on your phone, from photos, videos and even screenshots. You can select the media you want to include and then add a soundtrack. Music can be added from either the offerings provided by HTC or you can use your own music – just select an MP3 from your phone. Then share.

Sharing will obviously be to your Zoe feed, but you’re also presented with options to share to your complete sharing intent menu (Picture messaging, GMail etc) as well as to Google+ or Facebook, depending on which service you used to login to Zoe.

Zoe has been released as a Beta through Google Play, the software is available for download for all HTC devices as well as Samsung and LG (including the Nexus 5) phones running Android 4.4 or later. But hey, who wants to wait, download the APK and try it on your device to see how it goes. Remember, it’s a beta, so as they say, your mileage may vary.Mirror 1Mirror 2Mirror 3

Zoe is an interesting new way to edit and share video, it’s probably one of the easier services to use, but the question must be asked: Do we need another social sharing service? That’s up to you.

While this is the first of the HTC software services to break free, we’re still waiting for other services, like Blinkfeed, which HTC promised us at the launch of the HTC One M8, would be brought free sometime in July. But, it seems that the floodgates have started with a small Zoe, shaped trickle and we wait with bated breath for more.

Daniel Tyson

Dan is a die-hard Android fan. Some might even call him a lunatic. He's been an Android user since Android was a thing, and if there's a phone that's run Android, chances are he owns it (his Nexus collection is second-to-none) or has used it.

Dan's dedication to Ausdroid is without question, and he has represented us at some of the biggest international events in our industry including Google I/O, Mobile World Congress, CES and IFA.

Join the Ausdroid Conversation

The HTC One XL is not supported. No upgrade to Kit Kat and now no updated Zoe.

Vote Up-1Vote Down Reply

5 years ago

Ausdroid Reader

whitelunchbag

The only use I see for this is making videos for Instagram and even then… still pretty useless

Vote Up0Vote Down Reply

5 years ago

Guest

Andrew

Downloaded it and had a chance to play with it. It’s really quite cool. My sister takes so many photos and videos of her newborn, I could see her loving a feature like this. Might have to mention it to her.